Canadian Snowbird Association

Commitment, Service and Advocacy for Travellers On Tuesday April 16, 2019 the residents of Alberta will We don’t want election promises! We want fair choose their next provincial government. As a member treatment! of the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA), now is the time to ensure your voice is heard! Take the time to learn where your local candidates Karen Huestis stand on these important issues. Do they support your President right to travel? What will they do on your behalf? Canadian Snowbird Association

Access To Emergency Health Coverage 1 When Travelling Currently, the province of Alberta’s reimbursement rate for emergency in-patient hospital services obtained outside of Canada is $100 CAD per day excluding the day of discharge. The rate for out-patient emergency hospital services received while outside of Canada is $50 CAD per day and is limited to a single visit per day. While the government of Alberta continues to refuse to disclose its per-day rate for emergency Do your local candidates support services required while within Alberta, $100 and $50 are well below the average upholding the portability principle rates paid for in-province in-patient and out-patient services respectively, elsewhere of the Canada Health Act? in Canada. Given these rates, it is clear that the government of Alberta continues to Do they support reimbursing violate the portability principle of the Canada Health Act. emergency in-patient and out- The position of the Canadian Snowbird Association has remained firm and consistent patient health services obtained on the issue of access to emergency health care coverage while outside of Canada. while outside of Canada at the The government of Alberta needs to begin fully complying with the Canada Health Act same rate as services required while by reimbursing travelling Albertans at the equivalent rate for services obtained while present in Alberta? in-province and continually update these rates to match changes in real costs. Since Do they support continually travelling Albertans contribute to the health care system by paying taxes year round, it updating these reimbursement rates is only reasonable that they receive equal access to emergency health care coverage. to reflect changing costs?

Preservation of Provincial Health Coverage for Frequent Travellers

Due to the efforts of the Canadian Snowbird Association, the Alberta 2 government has amended their temporary absence policy to allow long- term vacationing residents to remain eligible for health coverage while being absent from Canada for up to 212 days in a 12-month period.

Travellers leaving Alberta for longer may Do your local candidates support apply to Alberta Health for a 24-month changing current policy to allow extension of coverage. In this case you international travel for up to eight must demonstrate permanent residency by months (or seven months with satisfying the government’s criteria, such an unlimited number of short- as having maintained economic, personal term trips [23 days] anywhere in and social ties in Alberta and not having the world), while still maintaining established permanent residence elsewhere. health benefits? Access to Prescription Drugs For Use During Travel

Alberta Health sponsored drug plans will cover up to a 100- day supply of most drugs on the Drug Benefit List. However, Do your local candidates 3 once per benefit year, extended quantity authorizations support amending legislation for up to a 200-day supply of eligible medications are to permit, at the discretion of permitted for Albertans leaving physicians and pharmacists, the province for extended travellers to be covered for periods of time. Alberta Health a supply of prescription must be notified of the period medication equal to the of absence from the province. permitted travel time out of the The government of Alberta will province? reimburse eligible expenses for prescription drugs obtained while out of Canada at Alberta rates for prescriptions written by licensed practitioners.

Registered Provincial Political Parties Contact information to conduct election platform inquiries

Alberta Liberal Party Alberta New Democratic Party United Conservative Party David Khan Jason Kenney PO Box 94098 Elbow River Suite 201, 10544 - 114 Street NW 203, 2915 - 21 Street NE Calgary, Alberta , Alberta Calgary, Alberta T2S 0S4 T5H 3J7 T2E 7T1 Phone: (780) 414-1124 Phone: (780) 474-2415 Toll Free: 1 (888) 465-2660 Toll Free: 1 (800) 661-9201 Toll Free: 1 (800) 465-6587 Email: [email protected] Fax: (780) 414-1125 Fax: (780) 669-9617 www.unitedconservative.ca Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.albertaliberal.com www.albertandp.ca

Alberta Party Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta Contact Information Derek Fildebrandt Elections Alberta - Main Office Address: STN MAIN, PO Box 1045 7133 77 Ave Suite 100, 11510 Kingsway NW Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2Y5 T5J 2M1 T6B 0B5 Canada Phone: (587) 930-7933 Phone: (403) 703-1217 Office Hours: Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Monday through Friday: 8:15 a.m. - 12 noon www.albertaparty.ca www.freedomconservativeparty.ca and 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tel: 1 (780) 427-7191 Fax: 1 (780) 422-2900 Other locations in the province can call toll free by dialing 310-0000 then dial (780) 427-7191. For a full list of registered political parties in the Email: [email protected] province of Alberta please visit www.elections.ab.ca Advance Polls Mobile Poll If you will not be present in Alberta on they will also be available from Elections A mobile poll is a means for electors who are election day, you may cast your ballot Alberta at www.elections.ab.ca and in the resident in: beforehand at an advance polling station. local newspaper. zza treatment centre that provides medi- Advance polls will be held from Tuesday, With passage of An Act to Strengthen cal care on an in-patient basis (such as a April 9 to Saturday, April 13 from and Protect Democracy in Alberta in 2017, hospital or nursing home), or 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. eligible voters in Alberta will be allowed zza supportive living facility (such as a seniors’ The dates, times and locations of advance to vote in advance at any polling station in lodge) polls are provided on the Notice of the province. to vote within the facility on polling day. Registration card. During the election, A mobile poll is established by the returning officer in each facility that is deemed appropriate, after consultation with the facility officials. Mobile polls will be made available on election day, April 16, 2019. The Voting by Special Ballot hours of the mobile poll will be determined by the Returning Officer, in consultation 2. Receive a Special Ballot What is a Special Ballot? with the facility officials. On receipt of a special ballot request, the A special ballot is a means for an elector For more information on mobile polling Returning Officer will mail the special ballot to cast a ballot in the upcoming provincial and contact information for your respective package or hold it for pick-up by the elector general election if he or she is unable to vote Returning Officer please visit the Elections during the advance polls or on polling day. or the elector’s designate. An elector may have the package picked up by a commercial Alberta website at www.elections.ab.ca. A special ballot can be sent to the elector, courier, friend or family member. The person on request, or the elector can vote at the picking up the special ballot package will be Elections Alberta Returning Officer’s office. asked by the Returning Officer to provide identification. Information It is important to remember that the special Can I vote if my name is not on the List of Special Ballot Process ballot cannot be sent to the elector nor returned Electors? to the Returning Officer by facsimile or other 1. Request a Special Ballot Yes. An elector whose name is not on the electronic means. An elector must contact the Returning Officer List of Electors may vote after producing for the electoral division in which the elector 3. Return a Special Ballot government issued identification containing is ordinarily resident. Requests for mail- The elector must complete the special bal- the elector’s photograph, current address out special ballot packages can only be lot and Part I of the Special Ballot Certificate and name such as a driver’s licence or requested up until 6:00 p.m. the Monday Envelope. If the elector is not included in the Alberta identification card. prior to advance polls opening. In person Register of Electors, an Enumeration Record requests at the office of the returning officer How can I have my name added to the List will be sent with the special ballot package. of Electors? can be made until the close of polls on polling Completion of the Enumeration Record will day. ensure that the elector’s name is included on You can register to vote using the secure Contact information for the Returning Of- the List of Electors. on-line registration system called Voterlink at www.voterlink.ab.ca. You can also contact ficers is available throughout the election A properly completed special ballot pack- Elections Alberta in person or by phone period on the Elections Alberta website age with a copy of identification must be www.elections.ab.ca, by phone (780) 427-7191 returned to the returning officer before the (780) 427-7191, e-mail [email protected] or by email [email protected]. close of polls on polling day in order for it to or facsimile (780) 422-2900. Your information Electors may also request a special ballot be counted. will be added to the Register of Electors to online at https://specialballot.elections.ab.ca. ensure that it will appear on subsequent Lists of Electors.

CANADIAN SNOWBIRD ASSOCIATION Commitment, Service and Advocacy for Travellers 180 Lesmill Road Office Hours (Eastern Time) General inquiries (English service) Toronto, Ontario, Canada 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday Telephone (416) 391-9000 M3B 2T5 Fax (416) 441-7007 Toll-Free 1-800-265-3200 www.snowbirds.org General inquiries (French service) E-mail [email protected] Telephone (416) 391-9090 Toll-Free 1-800-265-5132